Nothing screams clean more then the heady whiff of bleach or hospital strength disinfectant, right? Wrong, wrong and wrong again. We all know that the chemicals in conventional cleaning products are as horrible for our health as they are for the environment. That’s why the real housewives of Orange Country and New York City are opting for a greener approach to cleaning their homes. And where these early adopters lead, the rest of the country will follow: just look at the popularity of breast implants.

But seriously, using non-toxic cleaning products in your home is a no-brainer. In the same way asbestos is now outlawed, I’m sure one day we’ll look back on the days of 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE), sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate with a certain nostalgia, I mean nausea.

Supply seems to be meeting demand with a host of green cleaning companies springing up nationwide. Executive director of the Association of Residential Cleaning Professionals, Perry Phillips, explains: “It’s definitely a trend in our industry, more and more customers want their homes cleaned in a health-conscious way.” What’s more, customers are happy to fork out premium prices for the service, which is often due to the higher costs of eco-products.

In addition to eco-maids armed only with Seventh Generation, Ecover, Method, vinegar and baking soda, this new breed of green cleaners also offers education and consulting services; eco-painting; eco-janitors for the workplace; even (eh-hem) space blessing and energy clearing.

Okay maybe that last stuff is little new age-y, but as far as cleaning services are concerned, there’s no doubt in my mind that green is the new clean.

Laundry is just one of those things you can’t avoid. Sure, you can ignore it for a while, but the pile will continue to grow, and eventually you’ll be faced with an emergency situation. No matter how you look at it, the laundry will win out in the end – which means you’re better off facing it head on.

Part of my problem is the seeming waste of resources: all the water that’s used up, the gas that heats the dryer, the electricity, etc. But as they say: baby steps. Even one simple change can have a big impact. I do have to admit, though, that I’m a user of dryer sheets. And I also have to fess up to the fact that until recently – despite all my moaning about resources and waste – it never occurred to me that after I throw them away, those seemingly innocuous sheets end up in a landfill – and coat my clothes with carcinogens like benzyl acetate, limonene, and chloroform.

We all had our favorites from the old, toxic world of household cleaning products: Palmolive for the dishes, Tide for the laundry, Tilex for the shower, Fabuloso for the floors, etc. That was until we learned that these conventional products were about as far from Fabuloso as you can get. Containing “petroleum, phosphates, phthalates, antibacterial agents and chlorine bleach”, these are the exact same ingredients that the Union of Concerned Scientists advise us to avoid.

So, how do we navigate the brave, new world of green non-toxic household cleaning products? Is there a Method to the eco product madness? And who would win an elbow grease wrestle between Ed Begley, Jr. and Mrs. Meyers? In a recent Emerald City column, LA Green Girl ranks eco cleaning brands in order preference: Seventh Generation, Eco Friendly Products, Begley’s Best, Palnet, Mrs. Meyers, Method, Clorox Green Works, and Arm & Hammer.

What I love about the green movement is that it allows new green companies to release innovative earth-friendly products and services and also provides major (and seemingly far-from-green) companies to come out with better lines.

Let’s consider the world of household cleaning products. If you were an established company with a name that could easily be confused for a chemical compound and you suddenly found yourself battling for shelf space with modern, minimalist, au naturale products, you might consider following the footsteps of Clorox.